1 How To Protect Yourself When Choosing A Debt Relief Program

When it comes to getting out of debt, it seems like everyone is an expert. You'll hear advice from bloggers, financial advisers, debt relief companies, and even friends and relatives. Just keep in mind that there is no single best way to get out of debt. There are plenty of options, and all can work in the right situation.

The most convenient way to find good, honest debt advice is searching through the available online resources. You can read these on your own time. And draw your own conclusions. Just keep in mind that anyone can set up a website that makes their company of their solution look professional.
If you are going to set up your own debt relief plan, then you don't have to worry too much, since you can't really get into too much trouble. Unless of course you decide to do something unethical. If it sounds too good to be true, or if it sounds dishonest, then it probably is. So stay away from those types of solutions.

So, if all you are doing is setting up some type of repayment plan, keep in mind that you may need to try a few to see which work best for you.

But if you are seeking help from a debt reduction service, the choosing the right company is crucial, as there are companies out there that will take advantage of your situation.
You will find several many debt management companies online that
all promise to help you get out of your financial predicament. Many of them are legitimate. Many of them will really help you get yourself out of debt.

But some of them will either be the wrong fit (but won't tell you that), will charge higher fees than they should (but will make it sound like more expensive means better – which is not true), or will outright lie to you (and often make your problems even worse).
So what should you do?
In order to get the most benefit, you have to exercise care and caution in choosing the right debt relief service:

1) Be sure to check out the company carefully before you sign up. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see how many complaints have been filed and how long they have been in business. Do a search on the company's name to see if there is anything else you can use to judge the company's legitimacy.

2) Get everything in writing before you sign anything or send any money. And even if the documents look complicated, read them carefully (or have a friend read them for you). This is your chance to learn what you are getting, and what you are not getting.

3) Ask lots of questions. If you don't like the answers, ask again. And make sure the answers are written down somewhere. Getting answers over the phone won't protect you if a problem occurs and you can't find it in the written agreement.

Once you have found the right debt relief company to help you, keep in mind that there are steps you can follow on your own to help yourself in other ways:

Review your credit report, and see to it that every entry is accurate and really belongs to your account. You can get a copy of your credit report for free once a year from annualcreditreport.com.

Write a list of all your debts, how much you own, and when your payment is due, so you know exactly where you stand.

Start to cut your expenses. You may have to look at your checkbook or bank statements to see which areas you can modify to limit your expenses. And only use your credit cards when you really need them.

Find extra sources of income, if possible. Get a part-time job, start a part-time business, do freelance work, or sell stuff you no longer use.

If you follow these steps, and you make a commitment to stick with your plan, you will get yourself out of debt!

Kris Bickell offers a variety of debt relief tips at www.Debt-Tips.com. Whether you are looking for help with reducing your debt, fixing your credit issues, or saving money, you will learn actual tips to help fix your financial problems.